Anniversary Party at Blackberry Farm, Part Two :: Katherine & Rob

We are back with part two (see part one right here) of this anniversary weekend designed by Calder Clark! Katherine & Rob celebrated their anniversary with an intimate blessing by the lake at Blackberry Farms. Afterwards they served champagne at an elegant cocktail hour under a Sperry tent, which included plenty of draped natural linens and beautiful spots to sit, followed by a moody alfresco dinner with chocolate candles, touches of gold and striking red and pink florals – the perfect match for the drama of Katherine’s gorgeous Vera Wang gown!

The Blessing

It was important to the couple to include their sons in the celebrations. “Getting to spend everyday with your best friend is the best part of marriage. And raising two wonderful boys together is the most amazing experience we could ever have imagined. We just love our boys so immensely, beyond measure. It was really important to us that William and James were a big part of our anniversary party, because they are the most important part of our lives and marriage.”

Katherine’s slightly wild wrist corsage works so well with the undone ruffles of her incredible Vera Wang ‘Gemma’ gown.

The Reception

Towering greenery in glass demijohn vases of different blues and greens created a beautiful color scheme, along with the sparkly crystals and precious stones securing the escort cards against the lakeside breeze!

As the afternoon went on, champagne was served in a light-filled Sperry tent. It featured elegant neutral linens and furnishings, and sweet florals in ivory and blush – a real departure from the relaxed, rustic feel of the night before.

Once the sun went down, things took a dramatic turn for dinner – tables glittered with candlelight and featured incredibly rich, luscious florals in pinks and reds.

Katherine says that she loved the advice event planner & designer Calder Clark gave her just before their party: “right in the middle of the party, when things are in full swing, band playing, people letting loose, drinking, eating… you both should step back and take it all in. Just for five minutes. Leave the tent, just the two of you, walk away a bit, and turn around and look back. Take it all in, your family, your friends, all together, enjoying themselves. You won’t forget that moment, ever.” With those wise words in mind, she remembers “so we did just that, and I will never forget it. That moment where you hit the pause button in the middle of a whirlwind night, and really appreciate how perfectly beautiful life can be.”

Katherine & Rob ultimately saw the Saturday night as “a romantic, mountainside anniversary fete – a chance to dress up and put a little polish on the weekend.” And much as we can’t get over how amazing they both look, what we really love about these two is that their favorite parts of the weekend were the most meaningful – a tossup between their boathouse blessing, followed closely by dancing to the same first dance song they danced to at their wedding, ten years earlier.

Katherine has some very warm words to say about how they decided to make their special weekend about celebrating more than the two of them. “During our planning process, we began to realise that this anniversary party actually wasn’t about us. Weddings are pretty clear: the bride and the groom are the centre of the universe, at least for a few hours, and all eyes are on them. But we wanted this party to be about everyone else: about our family, and our friends, and our children. Our ten year was a perfect excuse to get everyone together, say thank you for being a part of our journey, for all the support and love that you have all shown to us throughout our lives, and just take a break from everyone’s normal routines, to take a break from everyone’s normal routines to have an extraordinary weekend together. That was the vision, and what we think the party actually became. To shine the spotlight on everyone who was there, not just two of us.”